Blantyre | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was parked on the international departures apron at FALA, ready for a flight from FALA to Blantyre. The pilot assumed that the engineer had pressurised the hydraulic accumulator and therefore did not inspect it himself. When the passengers arrived, the pilot got in the aircraft and began the internal pre-start checks. The co-pilot removed the chocks after boarding the passengers, closed the door and then started to brief the passengers. At that moment the pilot noticed that the aircraft was rolling forward. Attempts to stop the aircraft were unsuccessful, the aircraft rolled forward, narrowly missed a hangar and a parked Bell Long-ranger helicopter next to the hangar, crossed the taxiway and finally stopped when entering a ditch between the taxiway and the runway. The pilot was the holder of a valid transport pilot’s licence and had the type endorsed in his licence. The operation of the hydraulic system was found to be satisfactory. The hand pump was used to pressurise the system after which the brakes could be applied successfully.

Probable cause:

The hydraulic system was not pressurised during the pre-flight inspection of the aircraft. The chocks were therefore removed without adequate hydraulic system pressure available.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Blantyre: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

7Q-YMM

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Blantyre - Blantyre

MSN:

LJ-880

YOM:

1980

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Circumstances:

The crew (one instructor and one pilot under training) departed Blantyre-Chileka Airport on a local training flight. Few minutes after takeoff, the instructor shut down the right engine to simulate a failure and the crew continued the flight when, shortly later, the left engine lost power and failed. The crew elected to restart the right engine but without success. In a such situation, the pilots decided to return to Blantyre Airport when, on final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed 1,300 meters short of runway. One pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Ulongwé: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1987 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant

Operator:

Registration:

7Q-YMB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Blantyre - Lilongwe

MSN:

1971

YOM:

1980

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Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Blantyre to Lilongwe, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Out of control, it crashed in Ulongwé, killing all 10 occupants.

Probable cause:

It is believed the aircraft was mistakenly shot down while flying over an area of heavy fightings.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK near Blantyre: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1958 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

476560/F-RAST

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo

MSN:

16144/32892

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from from Blantyre-Chileka Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Chiradzulu located about 21 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Georges Mercier,
Lt Jacques Laguibe,
Adj Bernard Moreau,
Adj Louis Coudray,
Adj Georges Babylé,
M/Sgt Georges Moreau.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Lunzu

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1956

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

VP-YIM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lilongwe – Blantyre

MSN:

YOM:

1951

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Circumstances:

While approaching Blantyre, the pilot encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions and decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in Lunzu, about 6 km northeast of the Chileka Airport. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Vickers 616 Viking 1B in Mkwaya: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

VP-YEY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Blantyre – Dar es Salaam

MSN:

168

YOM:

1947

Location:

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Circumstances:

While cruising, the twin engine aircraft encountered poor weather conditions with turbulences and strong winds, disintegrated in the air and crashed near Mkwaya, killing all 13 occupants.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the type of grease used when fitting press fit bolts to the booms had caused corrosion nodes, thus weakening the lower starboard boom at the outboard bolt hole. The gust of wind caused a fracture of this boom outboard of Station 141, followed by the complete disintegration of the aircraft.